Picket fence



July 10, 1951 G. H. wADswoRTl-l PICKET FENCEv 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 6, 1948 Summer G'omoz? [17. Uld'wof/z- G ttomeg July 10, 1951 G. H. wADswoR'rH PICKET FENCE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 6, 1948 WNF.

INVENTOR.

Cordon H Nad@ Uovh Patented July l0, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to improvements in a picket fence.

It is the principal purpose of my invention to provide a novel construction whereby tubular metal pieces, some rectangular and some square in cross section, may be made into a picket fence with a minimum amount of separate fastening members.

My invention contemplates a picket fence construction where the basic construction comprises spaced posts that are coupled together .by rails, the posts and the rails -being tubular and the rails having slots running lengthwise of the bottom thereof to serve as a means for positioning rectangular tubular pickets and supporting the pickets with the full strength of the rails between posts.

More particularly it is the purpose of my invention to provide a picket fence construction embodying posts, rails and pickets wherein the rails need not be weakened by apertures for the pickets and the pickets themselves are firmly secured to the rails with means that provide for separately removing and replacing any damaged picket part.

The nature and advantages of my invention will appear more fully from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown.

It should be understood however, that the drawings and description are illustrative only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention except insofar as it is limited by the claims.

In the drawings: j

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a picket fence embodying my invention and illustrating posts, rails, pickets and a gate;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken vertically through a picket at right angles to Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken lonigtudinally of the fence on the line 4-4 of Figure 5 showing the mounting of the rail to a post;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line I-S of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a retaining member used in the bottom portion of the picket;

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation of a modied construction for use on moderate slopes; and

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 with parts broken away illustrating a modified construction for use on steep hillsides.

Referring now to the drawings, the picket fence embodying my invention comprises posts IIJ, upper rails II and lower rails I2 connecting the posts, and pickets I4 between the posts and carried by the rails. A suitable gate construction is illustrated in Figure l. In this gure a rectangular frame I3 takes the place of the rails \II and I2 and provides mounting for the pickets I4. Suitable hinges I5 and I6 and a latch mechanism I'I are provided for the gate. The pickets I4 used in the gate, are the same as the pickets used for the rest of the fence except that those pickets lying against the vertical side members Vscrew stud IB.

of the frame I3 are provided with apertures (not shown) for receiving the rivet heads for the hinge and latch parts.

Each post I0 has two pairs of screw studs I8 welded thereon at the proper distance apart for mounting the rails II and I2. The details of this mounting are shown best in Figures 4 and 5. The gate and end posts vary slightly in that they need only one upper and one lower The gate posts must be apertured to receive the hinge and latch bolts and rivets. The posts I0 preferably are made of tubular metal, square in cross section, and have caps I 0c of pyramidal shape welded thereon. VThe posts I0 are set into the ground at proper intervals in any known manner.

The rails II and I2 are tubular and square in cross section with a slot I9 lengthwise along the bottom thereof. The rails have a series'of apertures 20 and 2I evenly spaced lengthwise thereof for use in mounting the :pickets thereon.

The lower rail I2 also has four picket positioning projections 22 formed on the top thereof about the apertures 2|. The projections 22 are formed .by punching up the material of the rail to produce small rounded projections.

The upper rail I I has a series of four upwardly directed projections 23 about each aperture 20 slightly closer together than the projections 22, to position the cap portion I4c of the picket. The

`upper rail II also has a pair of downwardly directed projections 24 for positioning the intermediate part I 4a of the picket. The projections 23 and 24 are formed in the same manner as the projections 22.

The several pickets I 4 are alike in construction.

.Each picket comprises three parts, an intermediate rectangular tube I4a, a bottom rectangular tube |417, and a hollow cap I4c with a V-shaped top. Preferably the cap I4c is cast of a suitable metal while the portions Illa and I4b are cut from tubing of a suitable material such as steel or aluminum. The bottom tube I 4b has a bolt retaining member secured therein. This member has a rectangular flat vbottom 26, end anges 2l and side flanges 28. The flanges are welded to the tube Idb to secure the retaining member. The bottom 2li has a central aperture 29 to receive a mounting bolt which is threaded into the cap I4c.

The assembly of the rails II and I2 with the pickets is shown best by Figures 2 and 3. The bottom picket portion Ib is inserted in the slot I9 between the sides of the lower rail I2 and the bolt SII is threaded up through the apertures 29 and 2|, then through the picket portion I4a and through the opening 20 in the upper rail. The upper end of the picket portion Ida fits in the slot I9 of the upper rail. When the cap portion I4c of the picket is applied and the bolt 30 is threaded into it, the middle portion Ma and the cap portion Ille are positioned on the rail I I by the projections 24 and 23 respectively. Likewise the projections 22 position the lower end of the picket portion Ia on the lower rail I2. A series of pickets may thus be applied to the rails II and Each rail has a clip 3I in each end thereof. The clip 3I is a heavy metal strip welded to the top wall of the rail and bent down at 32 as shown in Figure e, then forwardly at 33. The downward extending portion 34 and the forward lip 35 are slotted at 36, the slot extending slightly above the center of the rail and being rounded to fit over the studs IB on the posts Ill. Nuts 31 on the studs I8 serve to hold the ends of the rails tightly against the posts Ill.

Where it is necessary to adapt the fence to ground where there are gentle slopes this can be done as shown in Figure 9. All that is necessary is to place the screw Studs at one side of the .4 the undamaged parts. The fence is easily erected and repaired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a picket fence construction of the character described two vertically spaced rails, said rails comprising tubular members, channels along their bottom surfaces to receive picket members therein, a bottom tubular picket member, an intermediate tubular picket member, and a hollow cap picket member of like exterior size, all being of rectangular cross'sectlon and of a width to fit the channels of the rails, upwardly and downwardly Yextending projections at longitudinally spaced post ill above those on the other side of the post.

The rails Il and I2 will be higher at one side of the post than the rails at the other side.

On steep slopes it is necessary to have the rails follow the slope. Figure l0 of the drawings illustrates the manner of doing this. The ends of the rails l I and I2' are cut at the desired angle and the clips 3I are bent accordingly to connect to the posts when the rails II and I2 are at the desired angle to the posts Ill. It is also necessary to cut the bottom of the cap portion Mc', both ends of the midportion Ma' and the top of the bottom picket portion Mb' at the desired angle as shown by Figure 10. The assembly and positioning of the picket portions for this modified construction is the same as for the main form of the invention.

With my improved construction the picket fence uses posts, which are of standard metal tubing, square in cross section. The post tops and the studs I8 are easily welded in place. The rails are metal strips rolled to the rectangular shape with the longitudinal slot I9. The three piece pickets I 4 are mounted without cutting any part of the rails to make a weak place therein. The positioning of the picket portions Illa and Mb within the upper and lower rails respectively makes a strong interlocking connection that does not harbor moisture to cause corrosion. All parts are open downward to prevent accumulation of moisture. I E any one part of the fence is damaged, it can be replaced without loss of any o f intervals in the top wall of the upper rail to position the cap picket member and the top of the intermediate picket member, upwardly extending projections at longitudinally spaced intervals in the top wall of the lower rail to position the lower ends of the intermediate picket members, a bolt retainer in the bottom picket member and a bolt extending through the retainer upwardly through the lower rail, the intermediate picket member and the upper rail, the cap picket member having a threaded recess and the bolt having a threaded end entering said recess to draw the bottom picket member upwardly into the lower rail and secure the other picket members against the top walls of the rails 2. In a picket fence construction, posts having connecting rails therebetween comprising downwardly opening channels having their lower edges turned in to provide openings along the underside of less width than the channels, three piece vertical pickets carried by said horizontal rails, said rails having their1 top walls formed with longitudinally spaced groups of projections on which the top and intermediate picket members seat, the intermediate and bottom picket members being held laterally by said turned in lower edges of the rails, and a bolt having its head secured in the bottom picket member and extending through the rails and intermediate picket member, the top picket member having a closed top with a threaded recess into which the bolt threads to lock the picket members and rails together.

3. In a picket fence construction, a cap picket member having a head with a threaded bolt receiving recess opening downwardly therein and having a shell extending downwardly from said head, a tubular intermediate picket member, a tubular bottom picket member having a retainer mounted transversely therein and apertured to receive a bolt, rails between the picket members apertured to receive a bolt, a bolt extending through the retainer and the rails and intermediate picket member and into said recess for clamping the picket members against the rails, and projections on said rails holding the intel'- mediate picket member in alignment with the other picket members. l

4. In a picket fence construction, a cap picket member having a head with a threaded bolt receiving recess opening downwardly therein and having a shell extending downwardly from said head, a tubular intermediate picket member, a tubular bottom picket member having a retainer mounted transversely therein and apertured to receive a bolt, rails between the picket members apertured to receive a bolt, a bolt extending through the retainer and the rails and intermediate picket member and into said recess for clamping the picket members against the rails, and projections on said rails holding the intermediatepicket member in alignment with the other picket member, said rails comprising channels opening downwardly.

5. In a picket rence construction, a cap picket member having a head with a threaded bolt receiving recess opening downwardly therein and having a shell extending downwardly from said head, a tubuiar intermediate picket member, a tubular bottom picket member having a retainer mounted transversely therein and apertured to receive a bolt, rails between the picket members apertured to receive a bolt, a bolt extending through the retainer and the rails and intermediate picket member and into said recess for clamping the picket members against the rails, and projections on said rails holding the intermediate picket member in alignment with the other picket members, said picket members being sloped with respect to the rails at an angle of less than a right angle to the rails in the plane of the rails, the ends of said picket members engaging the rails being in the planes of the rails.

6. In a picket fence construction, a cap picket member having a head with a threaded bolt receiving recess opening downwardly therein and having a shell extending downwardly from said head, a tubular intermediate picket member, a tubular bottom picket member having a retainer mounted transversely 'therein and apertured to receive a bolt, rails between the picket members apertured to receive a bolt, a bolt extendingr through the retainer and the rails and intermediate picket member and into said recess for clamping the picket members against the rails, and projections on said rails holding the intermediate picket member in alignment with the other picket member, said rails comprising channels opening downwardly, the lower edges of the channels being turned in toward each other, the intermediate and lower picket members having at sides fitted between the turned in edges of the channels.

7. In a picket fence construction, a cap picket member having a head with a threaded bolt receiving. recess opening downwardly therein and having a shell extending downwardly from said head, a tubular intermediate picket member, a tubular bottom picket member having a retainer mounted transversely therein and apertured to receive a bolt, rails between the picket members apertured to receive a bolt, a -bolt extending through the retainer and the rails and intermediate picket member and into said recess for clamping the picket members against the rails, each rail having four rounded dimple projections pressed up therefrom around the bolt aperture forming a rectangular pattern, the picket member resting thereon being rectangular in cross section to seat around said projections and be centered thereby.

S. In a picket fence construction, a cap picket member having a head with a threaded bolt reu ceiving recess opening downwardly therein and having a shell extending downwardly from said head, a tubular intermediate picket member, a tubular bottom picket member having a retainer' mounted transversely therein and apertured to receive a bolt, rails between the picket members apertured to receive a bolt, a bolt extending through the retainer and the rails and intermediate picket member and into said recess for clamping the picket members against the rails, each rail having four rounded dimple projections pressed up therefrom around the bolt aperture forming a rectangular pattern, the picket members resting thereon being rectangular in cross section to seat around said projections and be centered thereby and the upper rail having a pair of dimple projections pressed downwardly therefrom and centrally disposed on the rail on opposite sides of the bolt aperture to position the upper end of the intermediate picket member longitudinally of the rail and the upper rail comu prising a channel facing downwardly, the lower edges of said channel engaging the sides of the intermediate picket member to position it laterally with respect to the rail.

GORDON H. WADSWORTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 170,850 Harding Dec. 7, 1875 238,617 Stark Mar. 8, 1881 346,644 Crisp Aug. 3, 1886 448,029 Hanika Mar. 10, 1891 540,936 Williams June 11, 1895 1,376,150 Miller Apr. 26, 1921 1,772,159 Roth Aug. 5, 1930 

